Buying fabric online and feeling guilty!

Why do I always feel a bit guilty when I order fabric from one of the big online sellers. I just placed another order yesterday. The total cost was less than 1/2 of what I would pay at Joann's and considerably less than the only remaining quilt shop in our area.

I always try to support local businesses as my travel agency is a local business... but cost wins out sometimes. I generally get good quality fabric online, but have had a couple poor surprises when I didn't pay attention to who the manufacturer was.

Do you feel guilty for spending the money, or for not supporting the local businesses? I like to support my LQS as much as possible, but there are many, many fabrics I just love that they don't carry so I feel no guilt about on-line shopping. I've never once been disappointed with my purchases because I'm familiar with all of the high quality fabric manufacturers and I know what I receive will be fine. When I first started quilting 6 years ago there was a quilt shop in town where I basically built my stash. It never occurred to me to shop on-line until they went out of business. Although there are four other quilt shops in my area, this particular one was totally geared towards my tastes. The only thing they didn't carry was Kona cotton solids, which I just love. Even though I have a couple of shops to choose from, I purchase about 75% of my fabric on-line. The quilt shops just aren't large enough to carry every fabric in every line, but I do support them when I can. Of course right now I'm on a fabric diet, so I'm not doing any shopping. I went overboard building a stash and have so many fabrics I just HAD to have that I've not used yet. So I will be shopping my stash for 10 more months (well, that's the plan anyway!).

We all have to make what money we have go as far as possible. On-line vendors can be a great source for us quilters. I check the sales and clearances on the big on-line shops for bargains quite often. Don't volunteer to be guilty for anything, life gives us plenty to feel guilty about as it is. IMHO

Don't feel guilty! I have always shopped Joanns, but when I began doing the Quilt Shop Hop I started to find better quality fabrics at all those little shops I went to. This was hard because I worked for Joanns, and I still shop there. On-line shopping is so much easier, and prices are great. So far I haven't received a 'poor' object, but it is bound to happen!